Bow sighting device



Aug. 23, 1966 MARKHAM 3,267,577

BOW SIGHTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2, 1964 3,267,577 BOW SIGHTING DEVICE Charles E. Markham, 7123 Stafford Court, Afiton 23, Mo. Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,093 10 Claims. (Cl. 33-46) This invention relates generally to archery equipment and particularly to a sighting device by means of which a predetermined angular relationship of the arrow axis to the sight line in both vertical and horizontal planes may be conveniently observed and maintained and by means of which any appreciable twisting force applied to the bow about either a vertical or horizontal axis when at full draw under shooting conditions may be readily detected.

nited States Patent An object of the invention is to provide a simple, in-

expensive, and compact sighting device for an archery bow providing the advantages of more expensive optical lens aligning devices or widely spaced and connected front and rear sight elements which would be impractical on an archery bow.

A further object is to provide a reflecting element to be mounted on a bow adjacent to a sighting element mounted on the 'bow, which reflecting element has a flat reflecting surface facing the bow string and angularly positioned so that an image of the nock end of the arrow or of some reference mark or configuration predetermined to have a specific vertical and horizontal spaced relationship therewith will appear to the aiming eye in a predetermined vertical and horizontal spaced relationship to the sighting element when the arrow axis has the correct vertical and horizontal angular relationship with a sight line extending from the archers eye to the sighting element.

A further object is to provide a sighting device for an archery bow which includes in addition to a sighting element, a flat highly reflective surface surrounding or closely adjacent the sighting element and facing the bow string and being angularly adjustable in both vertical and horizontal planes.

A further object is to provide a slidably adjustable sighting device including a sighting element and a flat reflecting surface facing the bow string adapted to 'be mounted for longitudinal slidable adjustment on a bow and including means which adjustably positions the angle of the flat reflecting surface as the sighting device is moved longitudinally along the how so as to maintain the same angular relationship of the flat reflecting surface to the sight line from the arche'rs aiming eye to the sight element.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompaying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sighting device constructed in accordance with the present invention in use by an archer;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a sighting device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the sighting device shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the slide bar broken away;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the sight and slide block removed from the slide bar;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are rear and side elevational views, respectively, of the combined sighting element and reflecting surface and its mounting means;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the slide bar;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the slide block clamping element;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the slide block;

FIG. 12 illustrates a circular reflecting surface with a central peep aperture arranged perpendicular to the aiming eye so as to reflect the aiming eye pupil concentric with the peep aperture when the archers head and the bow are precisely in their preselected relative positions;

FIG. 13 illustrates a circular reflecting surface with an aiming dot centrally positioned in a somewhat larger viewing aperture, the reflecting surface also being arranged to reflect the aiming eye in concentric relationship with the sighting element; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an imperforate circular reflecting surface with a sight element '71 mounted behind the element with the aiming dot thereof closely adjacent the reflecting surface.

Referring to the drawing, the sighting device comprises a slide bar, generally indicated at 10, having a cross-sectional "configuration as shown in FIG. 9, a slide block generally indicated at 12, and a combined sighting and reflecting member generally indicated at 14 which is carried on the end of a support rod 16 slidably and rotatably mounted in a bore 54 in slide block 12. The slide bar 10, which is curved for a purpose to be described, is ,shown attached to the string side of the handle section '20 of a bow 22 in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the web 24 and upper narrow flange portion 26 of the slide bar 10 are cut away for a short distance inward from each end of the bar, as indicated at 28, leaving only the lower wider flange 30 to be formed as required to accommodate the surface of the bow handle section to which it is attached. In the bow illustrated, the slide bar 10 is attached to the string side of a handle section which is shown as substantially straight and flat, the ends of the bar 30 being formed parallel therewith and being spaced therefrom by spacing blocks 32 so that the inwardly curved slide bar will clear the string side of the bow. Attaching screws 34 pass through the spacing blocks 32 and into the 'bow handle section. The slide bar 10 may, of course, be mounted on the opposite or back side of the bow in any suitable manner just so that the curvature of the slide bar is concave with respect to the archer.

The slide block 12 has a longitudinal groove 36 in its base extending the length thereof which receives the upper narrow flange portion 26 of the slide bar 10 in sliding fit relationship, the depth of groove 36 being approximately equal to the thickness of the upper flange portion 26. The bottom of groove 36 and the base of slide block 12 may be curved slightly as shown in FIG. 2, if desired, so that contact between the top surface of flange portion 26 and the bottom of groove 36 will extend inward some distance from the ends of the slide block, or the bottom of groove 36 and the base of the slide block may be made straight, in which case contact between the upper surface of the flange 26 and the bottom of groove 36 will occur substantially only at the ends of the slide block. When the bottom of groove 36 is made straight, slightly better alignment of the slide block will be inherent because of the more widely separated points of contact near the ends of the block, but the groove 36 will have to be made somewhat deeper in this case in order to insure that the flange portion 26 of the curved slide bar is entered sufficiently in the groove throughout the length thereof.

Slide block 12 is provided with a bore 38 and counterbore 40 entering from its base side which receives a clamping element '42, see FIGS. 5, 10, and 11. Clamping element '42 comprises a circular head 44 which enters the countenbore 40, and a threaded stem 46 which passes through the bore 38 extends beyond the upper sunface of the slide block 12 and receives a knurled nut 48. The circular head 44 of the clamping element has a transverse undercut key slot 50 therethrough which receives the answer? web 24 and upper narrow flange portion 26 of slide bar 10. When the knurled nut as is tightened, the bottom of groove 36 of the slide block is pressed against the upper surface of flang 26 of the slide bar and the slide block is thereby clamped in an adjusted position along the slide bar. A compression spring 52 is interposed between the nut 48 and the upper surface of the slide block, see FIG. 5, so that the clamping pressure may be applied gradually as the nut is tightened.

The slide block 12 is further provided with a thickened portion at one end thereof having a bore 54 passing transversely from side to side therethrough. The bore 54 receives the sight support rod 16 in a close sliding and rotational fit relationship. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, support rod 16 has an offset cylindrical head portion 56 at one end thereof arranged perpendicular to the axis of the rod. Cylindrical head portion 56 has a bore 58 therethrough perpendicular to rod .16, which bore receives in close fit relationship the hollow mounting stud 65) of the combined sighting and reflecting member 14. Referring to FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the combined sighting and reflecting member 14 comprises a centrally perforated circular support disc member 62 having a rear flat surface 64 from which projects the integrally formed hollow mounting stud 69. The stud 6G is arranged perpendicular to the flat rear surface 6 3. The front surface 65 of support disc member 62 is flat and formed at a slight angle to the rear surface 64. Mounted on the front angled sur- [face 66 of the disc element so in any suitable manner, as by cementing, is a flat disc element 68 having a highly reflective sunface and a central peep aperture 67. Preferably the element 68 is a flat, glass disc with parallel sides, the one of which lies against the angled surface 66 ofdisc 62 being silvered to provide a highly reflective surface. The term highly reflective surface in this description of a form of th invention and in the appended claims defines a surface which is approximately equal to a silvered mirror in smoothness and light reflectivity.

The hollow mounting stud 60 is provided with a threaded end portion 70 which receives a knurled nut 72. When nut 72 is tightened, the perpendicular flat surface G4 of disc member 62 is pressed against one flat end surface of the cylindrical head portion 56 of the support rod 16 and is thereby firmly held against rotation. Suitable flat washers 74 and 76 are provided between the knurled nut 72 and the cylindrical head portion 56 and between-disc member 62 and the cylindrical head portion 56, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to increase the friction between these surfaces so that the knurled nut may be tightened sufficiently with the fingers to firmly positionthe disc 62 and mirror 68 against rotation. The support rod 16, which is slidably and rotatably adjustable in bore 54, is held firmly in adjusted position by a set screw 78. The projecting other end of support rod 1-6 is provided with a knob 80 to facilitate rotational adjustment thereof.

T o adjust the angle of the reflecting surface so as to move the point which is imaged to th left or right horizontally, the nut 72 is loosened slightly and the beveled disc 62 and mirror 68 are rotated in one direction or the other, as required, to bring the center of the aiming eye or other rearward reference point to be imaged into alignment with a vertical line through the center of the peep aperture 67 and the nut 72 is then tightened. It will be understood, of course, that rotation of the beveled disc 62 changes the angle of the reflecting surface so as to shift the point which is imaged up and down as well as left and right. However, when horizontal alignment is obtained, the set screw 78 is loosened slightly and the support rod 16 is rotated one way or another to move the imaged point up or down, as required, to align the center of the aiming eye or other point to be imaged with a horizontal line through the peep aperture 67, and the set screw is then tightened.

The rotational beveled disc adjusting means permits minute angular adjustment of the reflecting surface to be made and provides a simple, shock-proof, mounting means to maintain precise adjustment. The set screw 78 is preferably of a suitably rigid, thermoplastic material which inherently maintains a tightened position because the thread fit may be made tight and a slight binding distortion of the threads occurs even when tightened by the fingers. Scoring of the surface of the support shaft is also precluded when the set screw is made of this type of material.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that when the flat reflecting surface of the mirror 68 is adjusted perpendicular with the aimin eye so as to reflect the aiming eye pupil concentric with the sighting aperture for one position of the slide block 12 on the slide bar it), the radius of curvature of the slide bar will have to be substantially equal to the distance from the aiming eye to the slide bar surface, and the aiming eye substantially at the center of curvature, if the reflecting surface of mirror 68 is to be maintained perpendicular to the aiming eye as the slide block is adjusted to any other position along the slide bar, as indicated in dotted line. When the slide bar it is of substantially this curvature and the aiming eye is substantially at the center of this curvature, the reflecting surfac of mirror 68 will remain perpendicular and reflect the aimim eye concentric with the peep aperture in any adjusted position of the slide block 12 along the slide bar 10 providing the position of the archers aiming eye with respect to the bow is precisely the same in all cases. It is to be understood that the archer bends at the waist when elevating or lowering his bow to bring the sight into alignment with a target, the relationship of the bow arm and head remaining the same.

Inasmuch as the fore end of the arrow lies on a fixed rest 84 and the rear end thereof, or the mock 36, is placed in the same position in each case on the bow string 38 by reason of a fixed hocking point on the string (not shown), the arrow axis will have precisely th same angle with respect to the sight line between target and aiming eye in all cases if the vertical distance from the arrow nock 86 and the aiming eye remains the same. A predetermined vertical distance between the arrow nook and aiming eye is established by assuming some easily repeatable anchor point for the arrow nook and string drawing fingers. In the illustration, the anchor point is established by resting the chin on the forefinger of the drawing hand with the arrow nook between the fore and second fingers.

When the anchor point is established and the reflecting surface of the mirror 68 is adjusted so as to reflect the aiming eye concentric with the peep aperture when at full draw and properly anchored, any slight tilting of the head up or down or slight movement of the nock away from the anchor point will cause the image of the aiming eye to move considerably above or below the peep aperture, thereby causing the archer to become immediately aware that the angle of the arrow is incorrect. In this manner the reflecting surface of the sight provides arrow aligning means equivalent to an arrangement of rear and front sighting elements spaced apart the distance from the archers eye to the string side of the how when at full draw. This spacing for an archer having an average twenty-eight inch draw would be about twenty-six inches.

A slight horizontal movement of the arche-rs head from a predetermined anchor position will also move the aiming eye to the left or right of the peep aperture, indicating hnmediately and clearly that the head is not in the proper horizontal position or that the bow holding hand is applying a twisting pressure to the bow slightly to the right or left which would cause the arrow to fly to the right or left.

While in the preferred forms of the invention, I use a circular flat mirror with either a central aiming aperture of suitable size, as shown in FIG. 12, or a somewhat larger central viewing aperture with a central aiming dot mounted therein, as shown in FIG. 13, and adjust the mirror so as to reflect the aiming eye concentric with the peep aperture or aiming dot, it is to be understood that the mirror may be adjusted so that it will reflect the end of the nose, the center of the mouth, the chin and arrow nock, or any other portion of the archers head or a mark on the bow string concentric with the peep aperture or aiming dot. It is to be understood, however, that when the reflecting element is adjusted to reflect the image of some other object spaced from the aiming eye, the image will not remain concentric with the peep aperture as the slide block moves on the arcuate slide bar unless the slide bar is adjusted so that this other object lies at the center of its arc. It will be seen also that if the aiming or viewing aperture is within the reflecting surface so that the image of the rearward reference mark or configuration lies concentric with the aiming or viewing aperture when the arrow is correctly aligned, the eye may focus directly on both the image of the rearward reference point and the sighting aperture while aligning the aperture or dot therein with the target. This is, of course, highly desirable; however, the aiming dot or peep aperture may also be positioned closely adjacent an imperforate reflecting surface. When adjustment of the angularity of the reflecting surface in one plane is accomplished by rotation of a beveled disc, as in the illustrated preferred form, a nonconcentric aiming aperture or dot would have to be mounted separately from the reflecting element either on the slide block or on the support rod 16. If, however, some conventional universal mounting of the reflector element is employed, an aiming aperture or dot positioned adjacent the reflecting surface could be mounted on and move with the reflecting element as its angularity is adjusted. FIG. 14 shows a reflecting surface having crossed lines 69 etched thereon for centering the rearward image to be reflected and a post sight element 71 mounted behind the reflecting element. In an arrangement of this kind the reflecting surface would be adjusted so as to reflect the archers aiming eye or some other rearward reference mark or configuration so as to coincide with the center of the reflecting surface or with a mark on the reflecting surface when the arrow is properly aligned. This arrangement requires, of course, that observation of the image with respect to a mark on the reflecting surface be carried on either simultaneously by peripheral visage while focusing directly on the adjacent aiming dot or aperture and target or by repeated rapid shifting of direct focus between the reflecting surface and adjacent aiming means.

Adjustment of the reflecting surface and peep aperture to the right or left without changing the angular position of the reflecting surface is accomplished by loosening set screw 78 sliding the support rod 16 longitudinally.

A straight slide Ibar may be substituted for the curved slide bar if the sight is to be used primarily in archery games in which a considerable number of arrows are shot at the same distance. When the necessity of moving the slide block up and down for different target distances is infrequent, the set screw 78 may be loosened and the support rod rotated slightly to bring the aiming eye or other rearward reference mark image in coincidence with the sighting aperture or dot when the slide block is moved along a straight slide bar.

Referring to FIG. 3, a strip of adhesive tape 82 is attached to the surface of flange 26 of the slide bar 10 upon which sight settings for various distances are designated.

Referring to FIG. 8, a hollow, thin-walled cylinder 84 of pliable, synthetic, plastic material is slipped over the disc 64 to hood the reflecting surface from glare when the sun is high.

Other arrangements for reflecting a rearward reference point in close predetermined association with a sighting element in various positions of the sighting element along the bow, will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, a straight slide bar with a cam surface lying alongside thereof for cooperation with a cam follower on support shaft 16 to cause rotational adjustment of the shaft and therefore angular adjustment of the reflecting surface as the slide block is moved up and down may be employed instead of a curved slide bar. Also, an elongated, flat, strip mirror lying along the path of adjustment of a sighting element and adjacent thereto may be employed instead of a small reflecting surface movable with the sight as illustrated. In this case the elongated strip mirror can be readily mounted for manual angular adjustment or may be angularly adjusted to the corresponding correct position for each position of the slide block and sight by pivotally mounting the strip mirror at one end and employing a cam surface lying along and on the strip mirror adapted to be engaged by the slide block carrying the sighting element, which slide block is slidably mounted on a straight slide bar.

The foregoing description and drawing is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an archery bow having a sighting element thereon, an arrow rest thereon for positioning the fore end of an arrow and a nocking point on the bow string for positioning the nock end of the arrow thereon, means for observing and precisely indicating a predetermined angular relationship in both vertical and horizontal planes of the arrow axis and a sight line from the archers eye to the sighting element when at full draw comprising a reflecting element mounted on the bow and having a highly reflective opaque surface positioned so as to reflect to the archers aiming eye a portion of his face, said sighting element being closely adjacent said reflecting surface but out of reflecting position therewith thereby to permit convenient observation of the spaced relationship of the sighting element and an image of a portion of the archers face appearing on said reflective surface as the bow and sighting element are moved on target, and said reflecting element being adjustably mounted on said bow for angular adjustment of its reflecting surface in both vertical and horizontal planes whereby a preselected portion of the archers face adjacent to and having a predetermined relationship with the nock end of the arrow may be imaged in a predetermined horizontal and vertical spaced relationship with the sighting element as viewed by the archers eye to indicate correct, predetermined, angular relationship of the arrow axis and sight line.

2. A reflective sighting device for an archery bow adapted to be mounted on a bow in a position to reflect a portion of the archers face to his aiming eye when at full draw comprising support means, a sighting element mounted on said support means, a flat opaque mirror element adjustably mounted on said support means for angular adjustment of its reflective surface in horizontal and vertical planes, said sighting element being disposed closely adjacent to said mirror but out of the scope of its reflection, thereby to permit the peripheral observation of the image of a portion of the archers face on said reflecting surface while focusing the aiming eye on said sighting element, and said mirror having at least one reference mark thereon.

3. In a reflective sight for an archery bow adapted to be mounted on a bow so as to reflect a portion of the archers face to his aiming eye when at full draw, a support member, a flat opaque mirror element having a sighting aperture therein mounted on said support means for angular adjustment of its reflective surface in horizontal and vertical planes.

4. In a reflective sight for an archery bow adapted to be mounted on a bow in a position so as to reflect a portion of the archers face to his aiming eye when at full draw, a support member, a flat mirror element having 7 a viewing aperture therein, and a sighting element mounted on said mirror element and positioned within said viewing aperture, and means adjustably mounting said mirror element on said support means for angular adjustment of its reflective surface in horizontal and vertical planes.

5. In a reflective sight for an archery bow, a support member, a sight mounting member mounted for rotational adjustment in said support member, said mounting member having a flat surface intersected by its axis of rotation and disposed at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation, a flat mirror element having a sighting aperture therein lying flat against and connected to the flat surface of said mounting element with its aperture concentric with the axis of rotation of said mounting element, and said mounting element having an axial bore extending therethrough.

6. In a sighting device for an archery how, an arcuate slide bar adapted to be mounted longitudinally on a bow with its concave side facing the bow string, a slide block slidably mounted on said arcuate slide bar, sighting means and a reflective sighting element having an opaque highly reflective flat surface with a sighting aperture therethrough mounted on said slide block and facing the center of curvature of said slide bar, and said reflective element being mounted on said slide block for angular adjustment of its reflective surface in a plane parallel to said slide bar and in a plane perpendicular thereto.

7. In a reflective sighting device for an archery how, a support member, a sight element mounted on said support member, a mounting member supported in said support member for rotational adjustment, said mounting member having a flat surface intersected by its axis of rotation and disposed at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and a flat mirror element lying fiat against and connected to said flat surface of said mounting element.

8. In a sighting device for an archery how, a slide bar adapted to be mounted longitudinally on a how, a slide block slidably mounted on said slide bar, sighting means, and an opaque element having a highly reflective surface mounted on said slide block, said sighting element being positioned closely adjacent said reflecting surface but being out of position for any image thereof to be reflected to an archers eye.

9. In a sighting device for an archery how, a slide bar adapted to be mounted longitudinally on a bow, a slide member slidably mounted on said slide bar, a combined sighting and reflecting element mounted on said slide member, said reflecting element being opaque and having a highly reflective flat surface facing the bow string, and said reflecting element having a sighting aperture therethrough.

itt. In a sighting device for an archery how, an areuate slide oar adapted to be mounted longitudinally on a bow with the concave side thereof facing the bow string, a slide member slidably mounted on said slide bar, a sighting element and a reflecting element mounted on said slide member, said reflecting element having a flat opaque refleeting surface facing the center of curvature of said arcuate slide bar and said sighting element being positioned closely adjacent to but out of the scope of reflection of said reflecting surface.

References @ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,223,615 4/1917 Richards 88-2.4 1,982,489 11/1934 Wilcox. 2,534,946 12/1950 Braddley 3346.4 X 2,642,661 6/1953 Predrickson 33-464 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

ISAAC LISANN, Examiner.

JOHN D. 3005, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ARCHERY BOW HAVING A SIGHTING ELEMENT THEREON, AN ARROW REST THEREON FOR POSITIONING THE FORE END OF AN ARROW AND A NOCKING POINT ON THE BOW STRING FOR POSITIONING THE NECK END OF THE ARROW THEREON, MEANS FOR OBSERVING AND PRECISELY INDICATING A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP IN BOTH VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL PLANES OF THE ARROW AXIS AND A SIGHT LINE FROM THE ARCHER''S EYE TO THE SIGHTING ELEMENT WHEN AT FULL DRAW COMPRISING A REFLECTING ELEMENT MOUNTED ON THE BOW AND HAVING A HIGHLY REFLECTIVE OPAQUE SURFACE POSITIONED SO AS TO REFLECT TO THE ARCHER''S AIMING EYE A PORTION OF HIS FACE, SAID SIGHTING ELEMENT BEING CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID REFLECTING SURFACE BUT OUT OF REFLECTING POSITION THEREWITH THEREBY TO PERMIT CONVENIENT OBSERVATION OF THE SPACED RELATIONSHIP OF THE SIGHTING ELEMENT AND AN IMAGE OF A PORTION OF THE ARCHER''S FACE APPEARING ON 